will we ever win?

Taking out the Trash

When perennial Pro-Bowler James Trash went down with a leg injury during a kick-off return following the Eagles go ahead touchdown, the wheels came off the Redskins offense. Before that the future Hall of Famer had 85 yards and 2 touchdowns and was certainly going to be key in any Redskins game winning drive. Instead the Eagles defense, which provided little resistance most of the game, suddenly looked like the Eagles defense of old and the Eagles held on for the win.

In actuality the Eagles deserved to lose this game but the Redskins did themselves in all game. One of their key mistakes was Cooley's false start that helped the Eagles hold the Redskins to a field goal late. On the play Trash was wide open in the endzone too. Then again the Eagles, well mainly McNabb, did everything they could to lose the game as well. When will McNabb ever learn to throw the ball away? Never, I know. When will LJ Smith ever learn not to fumble? Never, I know. But McNabb did redeem himself with a brilliantly thrown ball to Reggie Brown for a TD and later a clutch go ahead for good 57 yard TD pass to Westbrook. ALL McNabb.

Other notes:

• McNabb sucked. But how was he 20-28, 251 yards and 4 TDs?
• I will give McNabb credit for some really good scrambles and runs with the ball, but how many horrible, drive killing passes did McNabb throw this game?
• How bad were the throws on the 2pt conversions?
• Westbrook is great.
• On the long screen play for a TD, loved Runyan's forearm shiver to the head block.
• LJ Smith probably fumbles once every 10 passes caught.
• Remember back in the day when the offense would turn it over the defense would hold the opposition to a field goal almost every time? Well they did it once today, with the Redskins help, and it won the game.
• Special teams suck on returns. They crossed the 30 once on kick-offs.
• Avant, when you catch the ball right at the first down marker, lean forward moron, don't run backwards.
• Way to go for it from your own 40 Reid. Good call.
• That call on Greg Lewis was crap. Then the refs probably made up for it by calling Springs for illegal contact on the next play. But Fox, as usual, didn't bother showing a replay.
• Did the Redskins let Westbrook run in for that 10 yard TD untouched on purpose?
• Can you believe the Eagles won this game?

Addendum: So I actually watched a bit of post-game player reaction on the news and was pretty amused by it. Many actually thought they won this game because they had heart and never quit and stuff like that, not that the Redskins gave it to them. I guess they have to say crap like that but how can they actually believe it? It was like the Eagles were playing themselves - wasted time outs, terrible clock management, missed PATs, dropped passes, fumbles when driving (but McNabb gave it right back), penalites at the worst possible time, penalties keeping the opposing offense on the field, penalites keeping your offense out of the endzone. It made the game fun though. After they squeak by the Dolphins they'll be talking Super Bowl.

Also, what Reid was whispering into McNabb's ear: How 'bout that Westbrook! A third round pick and the best guy on the team! You want to go in halfsies with me on a nice watch and dinner at Bookbinders for him?